Traveling Upcountry With a Toddler: Rwanda Road Trip Checklist

Toddlers get thirsty fast in a warm car, and a spill proof cup keeps the seats dry.

How to use it: Fill with clean water and refill at stops. Bring a big bottle of water for refills.

You cannot always find safe drinking water on the road, and you need it for hands and spills too.

How to use it: Pack at least 1.5 litres per person for the day.

Dry snacks are less messy in a car and gentle on a nervous tummy.

How to use it: Split a big pack into small containers so you hand out one portion at a time.

Filling, healthy and no knife needed.

How to use it: Pack firm bananas and apples. Buy more fruit from roadside sellers on the way, and wash it before eating.

A sweet treat that does not melt or crush in a bag.

How to use it: Offer small handfuls and only when the toddler is sitting up, as dried fruit can be a choking risk for young children.

Roadside restaurant food can be slow or spicy for little ones. A packed meal saves the day.

How to use it: Pack rice, chicken, chapati or anything your child already likes. Eat it in the first few hours or keep it in a cool box.

Keeps milk, yogurt and water cool on a long, hot drive.

How to use it: Pre-chill the drinks and add frozen water bottles as ice packs.

Travel days often mean more changes, and your usual size may not be sold in smaller towns.

How to use it: Pack one diaper for every two hours of travel, plus enough for each day away and a few extra.

For changes, sticky hands, car seats and the occasional roadside toilet.

How to use it: Keep one pack in your day bag and a spare in the main luggage.

A potty in the car is a lifesaver when there is no toilet for kilometers.

How to use it: Line it with a plastic bag and kitchen towel for quick, clean disposal.

Keeps the car fresh and the luggage dry until you find a bin.

How to use it: Tie them tightly and dispose of them properly at a stop. Never throw them out of the window.

Many roadside toilets do not have any.

How to use it: Keep a roll in the door pocket of the car.

Clean hands before snacks matter when there is no tap.

How to use it: Use it after every change and before every snack.

Winding roads and sudden braking make a properly fitted car seat the most important safety item for a road trip.

How to use it: Fit it tightly in the back seat and check the straps are snug. If you travel by bus, hold your child securely on your lap and sit away from the door.

Helps a sleepy toddler rest their head without slumping.

How to use it: A small cushion between the head and the car seat side works well.

Cars get cool with the windows open, and highland towns like Musanze are colder in the evening.

How to use it: Use it for naps, as a sunshade over the window, or a picnic mat.

Musanze and Nyungwe can be much cooler than Kigali, especially at night and in the rainy season.

How to use it: Dress in layers so you can add or remove one as the weather changes.

Your phone is your map, your camera and sometimes the cartoon that saves the trip.

How to use it: Charge it fully the night before. Download a few songs or shows in advance for areas with weak network.

Sun at Lake Kivu or on a long walk is strong, and toddler skin burns easily.

How to use it: Use a children's or sensitive sunscreen and reapply every two hours outside. Ask your pharmacist for one suitable for your child's age.

Keeps sun off the face and neck during stops and lakeside walks.

How to use it: A wide brim hat with a chin strap stays on best.

Rainy season storms come quickly, and getting a toddler in and out of a car in the rain gets everyone wet.

How to use it: Keep it in the car, not in the trunk.

Lakeside areas and evenings outdoors bring mosquitoes.

How to use it: Use only products labeled safe for children, apply to clothes and exposed skin as directed, and sleep under a net.

Toddlers trip and scrape knees at every stop.

How to use it: Clean scrapes with clean water, then a little diluted antiseptic, and keep them covered.

Upcountry pharmacies may not stock your child's usual medicine.

How to use it: Pack enough of any prescribed medicine for the whole trip. Ask your pharmacist about a fever remedy and travel sickness advice for your child's age.

Some families find a plain ginger biscuit helps with mild car sickness. It is a snack, not a treatment.

How to use it: Offer a small snack before the winding stretch rather than traveling on an empty stomach.

Car sickness, spills and leaks happen. A full change of clothes is essential, and waterproof training pants help a potty training toddler on a long ride.

How to use it: Pack two complete outfits for the toddler and one top for you in the day bag, each set in its own bag.

Drawing keeps toddlers busy at stops and in the hotel or guest room.

How to use it: Use a small notebook and chunky pencils. Put them away on the bumpiest stretches.

Cheap, quiet and endlessly entertaining in a car seat.

How to use it: Let them stick them on paper or on their own hands.

A quick game at a rest stop that lets a toddler run off energy.

How to use it: Only use them outside the car.

Something to play with at the destination, especially if there are cousins to meet.

How to use it: Choose toys without tiny pieces that roll under car seats.